Virgil Goode

Congressman Keith Ellison, once again showing the progressive savvy that got him elected to Congress over a gaggle of others, was sworn in yesterday on Thomas Jefferson’s Quran, affirming his faith and underscoring the religious tolerance of one of our nation’s most distinguished and intellectual founding father’s. With this act of quiet dignity, Keith Ellison has proven himself to be a class act and an above average politician that understands the game of one-upsmanship.

Attacked for his Muslim faith again and again by a triumvirate of wingnuts: Glenn Beck, Dennis Praeger, and finally Virginia Congressman Virgil Goode, Ellison’s statesmanlike defiance reveals them as the bigots they are. Ellison then went for the kill on the house floor as he and Dennis Kucinich sidled up to Goode and shook hands with a man I regard as nothing more than a Klansman with a title.

Below, Congressman Goode takes the oath of office. But seriously…

Goode wrote a constituent and said “I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran.” The only thing missing was a line that said “Segregation now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation Forever” and a passing reference to the evils of race mixing. With examples like Virgil Goode and the media acceptance of his racism, it is amazing that more people don’t get on the “Goode foot.”